GarageGames, LLC, an advocate of indie games and developer of the Torque product line, today announced its 3 Step Studio suite of tools and templates, and the launch of a Kickstarter campaign to help fund its development and ensure that the basics may be offered for free. 3 Step Studio is being created for game enthusiasts, artists and designers who wish to make and share games for the iOS, Windows and Mac platforms. 3 Step Studio requires no programming experience, making the process 'as easy as 1-2-3'.

The 3 Step Studio suite includes free genre-specific templates and tools that help aspiring game designers create and share their game for iPad, iPhone, Windows and Mac in three easy steps: Select a template, customize the game play and art - or upload your art to 'make it your own', and then publish the results for others to play. The basic tools and templates will be available for free to use, with advanced tools, templates and additional content available through micro-transactions.

"Gamers everywhere have ideas for their own games, but often encounter the roadblocks of programming and prohibitive pricing of most development tools. 3 Step Studio removes those obstacles and clears the way for their creativity," said Kyle Miller, product manager for the 3 Step Studio line. "We are filling that void of a game design suite specifically for the enthusiast, student, aspiring game designer or artist."

Initially, 3 Step Studio will launch with templates for a physics launcher, tower defense and blackjack-style gameplay. Future plans include templates for platform-style, RPG and many other popular game genres, depending upon funding support and community demand.

The GarageGames leadership team boasts more than three decades combined of game development experience, is known for its robust Torque engine and tools - recently made open source and available on GitHub via the MIT license, and has long been an enabler of innovation and the independent, community-driven game movement. As such, they have embraced the DIY trend that has emerged with the rise of the mobile, tablet and social platforms as the game industry has evolved and redefined itself to reach a broader audience.